Foldable comb



Nov. 27, 1951 c. P. ROBERTSON F'OLDABLE COMB Filed April 28, 1950 ELE i INVENTOR cmFFono P. Rosurrsoq ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOLDABLE COMB Clifford Parker Robertson, San Diego, Calif.

Application April Z8, 1950, Serial No. 158,699

My invention relates to a foldable comb.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a foldable or collapsible comb designed so as to occupy less space in handbags, pockets and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foldable comb wherein the teeth of the comb interlock when the comb is folded to prevent the collection of dirt between the teeth, and thus facilitate keeping the comb clean.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a comb of the above-mentioned character which ishighly simplified, compact, sturdy and durable in construction and neat and attractive in appearance.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a foldable comb embodying my invention and showing the same in the extended or open position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the left-hand end of `the comb illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a similar view of the right-hand end of the comb illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on line 4*-4 of Figure l;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the inward end of the right-hand comb section;

Figure 6 is a side elevational View of the comb in the folded or closed position; and

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a righthand comb section embodying a slight modification of the invention.

In the drawings, where, for the purpose of i1- lustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral III designates a first or inner cylindrical tubular comb section which may have its inner end open, as shown at I I, and preferably includes an outer spherically curved or rounded end I2 which is suitably roughened or knurled, as shown, to facilitate manipulating the comb section III. The inner comb section I 0 is provided upon one side with a longitudinal row of equi-distantly spaced comb teeth I3 arranged at right angles to the longitudinal center line of the comb section I0 and projecting laterally beyond the side of the comb section, as shown. The opposite end teeth rof the row of teeth I3 are spaced longitudinally inwardly `of the opposite ends of 3 Claims. (Cl. 132-15) the inner comb section III. The comb section II) is further provided adjacent to its inner end with raised locking screw-threads III extending'about a portion only of the outer surface of the inner comb section III.

A companion outer cylindrical tubular comb section I5 is provided, and this comb section has its inner end open for telescopically receiving the inner cylindrical comb section III therein, as

, shown. The opposite or outer end of the outer comb section I5 is preferably spherically curved or rounded, as at I6, and the outer comb section I5 is provided in its side wall with a wide longitudinal opening or slot I'l extending throughout substantially the entire length of the outer comb section and through its open inner end. As shown clearly in Figure 4, the opening or slot Il extends about substantially one quadrant of the circumference of the outer cylindrical comb section I5. The outer comb section I5 is provided :adjacent to one side edge of the slot I 'I with a longitudinal row of longitudinally spaced comb teeth I8 which extend at right angles to the longitudinal center line of the comb section I5 and laterally beyond the side of the comb section as shown. The opposite end teeth I8 of the row of teeth are spaced longitudinally inwardly of the opposite ends of the outer comb section I5, and the outer comb section is further provided between each adjacent pair of teeth I8 and in the adjacent longitudinal edge of the slot I1 with longitudinally spaced transverse openings or notches I9.

As best shown in Figure 2, the notches I9 are somewhat elongated about the circumference oi the cylindrical comb section I5, and the inner rounded ends 20 of the notches I9 are arranged in longitudinal alignment adjacent to one side of the longitudinal row of teeth I8. The openings or notches I9 are wide enough to receive therein the comb teeth of the inner comb section Ill when the comb is collapsed -or folded. The outer comb section I5 has the same number of notches I9 as there are teeth I3 on the inner comb section III. Theouter tips or points of the comb teeth I3 and I8 terminate at the same radial distance from the longitudinal center line of the comb, the comb teeth I3 being necessarily slightlyY longer than the teeth I8, since the inner comb section I0 is smaller in diameter than the outer comb section I5.

The outer comb section I5 is provided on the inner side of its side wall and near its opposite ends with outer and inner sets of internal locking screw threads 2| and ZI' respectively, which extend aboutla portion only of the circumference ferential length' of the raised locking screw-V threads I4 on the inner comb section is slightly lessl than the Width of the slot or opening Il, so that the screw-threads I4 may pass through the slot I'I when the comb sections I0 and I5 are telescoped for folding and opening the comb.

In use, the comb may be conveniently carried in the pocket, or in a pocketbook or the like While in the vfolded or collapsed position, Figure 6. When it is desired to open or extend the comb to its position of Figure l, it is merely necessary to grasp the knurled end I2 and rotate the inner comb section I slightly until the locking threads I4 disengage from the outer internal threads ZI adjacent to the outer end IB'of the outer comb section. This places th-e locking threads I@ and row of comb teeth I3 within the longitudinal slot II, so that the inner comb section I may be' pulled axially out of or away from the outer comb section I5. When the comb sections arefully extended, Figure l, the locking threads I 4 register with the inner `external threads ZIadjacent` to' the open end of the outer comb section I5, and the comb sectionV Iii can be rotated clockwise slightly, so that the threads Ili'w'ill engage the inner threads 2 I The arrangement is such that when the comb sections Id and i5 are extended and the threads I4 are fully engaged with the threads VZI', the row of comb teeth i3 will be in longitudinal alignment with the row of teeth It for forming a substantially continuous longitudinalrow of comb teeth.

To collapse or close the comb, the inner comb section I0 is turned counterclockwise until the threads lli disengage the threads 2i at the open end of the comb section I5, and the comb section VII may then be telescoped into the outer comb section I5, the threads I4 and teeth I3 passing through the longitudinal slot Il. When the two comb sections are fully telescoped, the threadslli will register or line up with the outer internal threads 2i oi the outer comb section,

Vand the comb teeth I3 Will register-,with the notches I9 between the comb teeth I8. The inner comb section Iii can then be turned clock# wise, so that the threads I4 will interlock with the outer internal threads 2 I. When this occurs, the comb teeth I3 of the inner comb section pass into the notches I9v and contact ttheir ends 20, so that the teeth I3 and i8 interlocl; or ntert, as shown in Figure 6.V Y

The foldable comb is highly compact, simplied and sturdy and durable in construction. The interi'ltting of the comb teeth I3 and I8 tends to prevent d-irt from collecting between the comb teeth, and makes the comb substantially self cleaning. Also, when the comb is collapsed or folded, Figure 6, so that the comb teeth i 3 and Iii intert, it may be used as a fine tooth comb instead of as a regular comb, as shown in Figure 1. The comb is neat andattractive in appearance, Vand may readily 'be made in various desirable colors. It is very easly to manipulate for opening and closing the same, and should be quite inexpensive to manufacture.

In Figure '7, the numeral I il designates a slightly modified form of inner comb section having a closed inner end I I and removable screw-threaded, outer end cap I2'. All other parts of the comb section I 0 are identical with corresponding parts of the comb section Iii. With the construction of Figure 7, the comb section IIE constitutes ahandy container for ladies hairpins and the like.

It is to be understood that the form of the Vin- 4 vention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example lof the same, and that various changes in shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of thersubjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. In a folda'ble comb, an outer tubular section, an inner section telescoped in said outer section, said inner section being axially rotatable and longitudinally slidable relative to said outer section, a row of comb teeth on the exterior of and extending longitudinally of each of said :sections, said inner section being arranged to have a major portion of the length thereof positioned Within said outersection in the closed position of Y,the comb and to have a major portion of the length thereof positioned outwardly of said outer section in the open position of the comb with its row of teeth in endwise relation to the teeth on the outer section, inner and outer internal detent elements in the interior of said 4outer section at the opposite ends'therecf, an external detentV elementat the inner end of said inner section, said external detent element beingrreleasably engageable with said outer internalfdetent element in the closed position of said inner section and releasably engageable withA said inner internal detent element in -the open position of said inner section, said outer comb section being formed with opening means enabling passage of the row o f comb teeth on saidlinner section into side-byesiderelation to therow of comb teeth of the outerY section as the inner section is -moved into the outer section into Yclosed position.

2. In a ioldable comb, an outer tubular section, an inner section telescoped in saidouter section, said inner section being Yaxially rotatable and longitudinally slidable relative fto `said outer section, a row of comb teeth on Vthe exterior of and extending longitudinally of each or" said sections, said inner section being arranged to havea major portion of the length thereof positioned withinV said outer section in the closed position ofv the comb and to have a major portionof the length thereof positioned outwardly of said outer section in the open position of the comb with its row of teeth in endwise relation to the teeth on the outer section, inner and outer internal detent elements in the interior of said outer section theopposite ends thereof, an external detent element at the inner end of Said inner section, said external detent element being releasably engage-- able with said outer internal detent element in the closed position of said inner section and releasably engageable with lsaid inner internal detent element in the open position of said inner section, said outer Vcomb section being, formed with opening means enabling passage of the rowV of comb teeth on said inner section into side-byside relation to the row of comb teeth of the outer section as theV inner section ismoved into the outer section into closed position, said outer comb section being formed with notches opening into said opening means andpositioned between ad jacent teeth of its row of comb'teeth into which the teeth of the row on the inn-er section Ycan be positioned by rotating said inner section relative to said outer section while Vthe inner section is in its closed position so as to locate the teeth ofthe inner section between and in line with teeth of the outer section. f

3. In a foldable comb, an'ou'ter tubular section, an inner section telescoped in said outersection, said inner.v section being axially rotatable and longitudinally slidable relative to said outer section, a row of comb teeth on the exterior of and extending longitudinally of each of said sections, said inner section being arranged to have a major portion of the length thereof positioned within said outer section in the closed position of the comb and to have a major portion of the length thereof positioned outwardly of said outer section in the open position of the comb with its row of teeth in endwise relation to the teeth on the outer section, inner and outer internal detent elements in the interior of said outer section at the opposite ends thereof, an external detent element at the inner end of said inner section, said external detent element being releasably engageable with said outer internal detent element in the closed position of said inner section and releasably engageable with said inner internal detent element in the open position of said inner section, said outer comb section being formed with opening means enabling passage of the row of comb teeth on said inner section into side-by-side relation to the row of comb teeth of REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 780,540 Thomas Jan. 24, 1905 1,572,399 Lewis Feb. 9, 1926 2,535,797 Isbell Dec. 26, 1950 

